For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing

I went off my Femara. Off a week now and it takes 3 to clear out. My onc wants me to go on Aromisin but I read the changes it makes are permanant and that isn't happening. So there is going back to Tamox, which was fine. But my brother just had a blood clot/heart attack and died. That makes 2 of my immediate family from vascular isues (mom-anyeursm). So the thought of the risks of clots and stroke scare me now on Tamox. I'm thinking about just stopping and living without side effects of all this. 

Galsal I noticed you mentioned an earache as a SE!  I have also been experincing pain in my ear on and off, something I never had before but  I never connected to the Arimidex.  I get up every morning with an headache, but the thing that bothers me the most, is the fact  that my appetite has increased and my memory has  decreased!  LOL

Mena

The changes Aromasin makes are permanent?  I hadn't heard that.  I've been on it for 4 days and so far I think it MAY be better than the others.  Hard to know for sure.  What changes are permanent?

I thought there must be a reason they all give Arrimidex first.

Strokes run in my family too and I'm afraid of Tamoxifin for that reason.  And i still have my uterus.

What choices we have to make!!!

No, the changes aren't permanent. My doctor expects my bone density will go up (it was still in the normal range but dropping by the time I was done). My cholestroel had already dropped about 20 points after being off it two months. My thought that any change that is permanent, is a change that would have happened anyway, due to the fact that you have had the opportunity to be 5 years older.

Have those too, Mena.

It is an opiod-like medication.  A false sense of well-being is a side effect, albeit rare.  I'll take rare (as I must be one of the rare ones) over taking an anti-depressent if I can.  And I can.  It helps with the every day pain (I take a 1/2 in the morning, the other 1/2 at noon (50 mg.) for months.  I cope, and I do so very well.  Many people have told me it's addictive, well so are anti-depressents.  Many people have told me you'll just need to take more and more to get the same result...I haven't, and I have been taking the same 1/2 and 1/2 dose since July.  As I can't take most medications (for high cholesterol...any of them) or tamoxifen (because I became the b* from hel* in less then two weeks)...I take Arimidex (1 months so far and good so far)...I can only thank God I can take tramadol and reap a benefit that many cannot. Type it in google and you'll read more about it.  Tramadol and false sense of well being. 

NRP

nrp - short-term memory loss was one the most dramatic symptoms I had with peri-menopause 14 years ago. I couldn't even finish a sentence because I'd forget what I wanted to say.

That, coupled with constant hot flashes and night sweats, caused me to go on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). I knew it wasn't healthy, but it got me over the worst of the symptoms.

How long have you been menopausal? (Or are you still premenopausal and taking Arimidex because of issues with Tamoxifen?)

Sometimes I think that some of the SEs of Arimidex/Anastrozole (with the exception of severe joint pain, and other things like hearing loss) are natural symptoms of menopause and would have occurred anyway just from lack of estrogen....

Skittle:  I go to my B/S next month.  I will see what she says about the duration.

Blessings you can't be on an AI if you haven't gone through menopause… it won't work but if you have gone through menopause you can take AI or Tamoxifen.

lago - that's what I thought, but I didn't want to jump to conclusions when I was answering nrp!

NRP--I really hope your hearing loss is not from the AI.  I did a lot of research on this and you have between a 5-6% chance of hearing loss on Tamox.  The hearing issue was not at a significant number for Arimidex.  My big concern was the fact that I wear hearing aids (got them a few years ago at 56).  My loss is nerve related and hereditary.  Most of my family got their aids in their late twenties and early thirties.  If this drug was going to make this worse, I would seriously consider not taking it.

I went to my PCP today to get some blood tests to use as a baseline for taking Arimidex, since my MO doesn't seem to think finding out my D levels, etc. is important.  This guy says to me "So how did that little breast thing go this summer?"  I kid you not that was his direct quote!!!

Moonflower--this guy is a work of art!  I decided to keep him for right now because I wanted the blood tests done and then I need script refills at the end of the winter.  By the end of spring we are permanently relocating to our place in Florida and I'll get a new doctor.  I actually almost laughed it was such a surreal moment.  I'm just using him at this point.  I shouldn't have to use him again.  The only Dr. that I have that I trust is my surgeon.  I would be changing my MO but it's not worth the time up here in Michigan--I'm lining up my Drs. for Florida...

Oh, Timbuktu--

I'm so glad you have found relief!

I was in Arimedex 3 mis, sore and achey. Now one month on Aromasin. Sore and achey, including waking me up at night. My inc suggested staying on 6 more weeks and checking in. I was fine for 6 weeks on Arimedex and the problems began. I almost wonder if Arimedex had fewer SEs. Anyone ever switch back to one? Ah, I'm annoyed. New non binding socks, delicate stomach, arms and legs and feet and more tingling. Grrr.aching. However working full time and enjoying it. It's  therapeutic though demanding,10-11 hours days, being a principal one is bombarded with many crises. Still better than being in chemo by a long shot..

After two months of recovering from side effect from Anastrozole, the doctors have finally changed me to Aromasin. Day 5 here. So far all is good!